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Matt Hatch

Some Background

Back in July of 2010 with the prospect of getting an opportunity to interview Brandon, I was chatting with Linda of 13th Depository about Verin, a favorite topic. I mentioned that Brandon, during The Gathering Storm tour, seemed disappointed that fans were not asking more Verin related questions. And I had done a podcast on Verin with 4th Age which reminded me just how much we didn't know about Verin. So, after spending some time brainstorming question topics with Linda, I grabbed a few more HCFF's (Terez and Marie) to knock out a detailed list of questions. And what you will read below is the list of Verin related questions we developed hoping that Team Jordan/Team Sanderson would be more open to the idea of discussing Verin now that she had died. I'm a bit of a Verin freak, so this shouldn't surprise anyone.

About the List

After posing a few of these questions which were much more elaborate in their setup believing I would be interviewing someone when asking them, Brandon recommended that I send him the list and he'd send it on. It's been quite busy since then for Team Jordan, but Maria gratefully walked through the List recently and sent us back the following.

Question

How old was Verin when she died? If you cannot give us an exact number, is it correct to say that Verin's age at death was somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 years? If not, will you provide an estimate of her age at death?

Maria Simons

Verin was born in 849NE, making her 151ish at death.

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3

Question

Merana said that every sister knew when each sister of the Tower arrived and how long she trained (Lord of Chaos, The Crown of Roses). The Tower keeps records on this. She thought Verin had been Aes Sedai about 40 years longer than she and Merana appears to have been Aes Sedai 70 years (their training time was the same and the novice acceptance age range is only three years). Is Merana mistaken in when Verin became Aes Sedai? Or in Verin's age when she came to the Tower?

Maria Simons

Okay, this one has me all confused. Can you expand this and explain? I should note that we have asked for a correction to one section in this chapter (I'll include it a bit later). Somehow I'm also missing where Merana says that every sister knows when each one arrived (I do see the bit about knowing how long each was novice and Accepted). Here's the change we asked for (it hasn't been made in the mmp I'm holding; I don't know if it was elsewhere):

At present reads: Alanna had been six years a novice, Merana only five, but more importantly, Merana had been Aes Sedai ten years the day the midwife laid Alanna at her mother's breast. Should read: Alanna had been six years a novice, Merana only five, but more importantly, Merana had been Aes Sedai above thirty years the day the midwife laid Alanna at her mother's breast.

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4

Question

Verin herself hints that she lied about her age when she joined up. How old was Verin when she joined the Tower?

Maria Simons

15. Where does she hint that she lied?

Question

Did Verin come to the Tower at a far greater age than is usual? If so, why?

Maria Simons

No.

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5

Question

Even though she lived in Far Madding, did Verin channel prior to going to the Tower to become Aes Sedai? If so, had she begun to slow before going to the Tower?

Maria Simons

No.

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6

Question

Was there suspicion regarding Verin's allegiance to the Shadow, as she joined the Black Ajah at such an advanced age? If so, can you name one member of the Black Ajah that was suspicious of her allegiance to the Shadow?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

How common is it for Aes Sedai over the age of 150 to be recruited by the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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7

Question

Was Verin's recruitment into the Black Ajah something she actively encouraged?

Maria Simons

No.

Question

If she did not encourage her recruitment, did Verin accidentally encourage her recruitment? (For instance, did Verin see or hear something, such as the Black Ajah signal, that required her to either join or be killed?)

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Will you explain the circumstances that contributed to Verin's recruitment into the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Which Aes Sedai recruited Verin to the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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8

Question

As far as Verin's recruitment and this statement, "I found myself in a position where I could either take the oaths to the Dark One, or I could reveal that I had actually never wanted—or intended—to do so, whereupon I would have been executed," how long after Verin was in contact with the Black Ajah for the first time, did this moment she describes occur?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Does swearing oaths constitute becoming a member of the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

How many Black Ajah are present when a sister swears her new oaths?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Where is the swearing of oaths to become Black Ajah performed?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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9

Question

What were the reasons Verin gave the Black Ajah as to why she wanted to join them?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Prior to her recruitment could Verin have been considered a Darkfriend?

Maria Simons

No.

Question

Prior to her recruitment was she someone that sympathized with the Shadow?

Maria Simons

No.

Question

Does the Black Ajah recruit for Darkfriends among rejected novices and Accepted?

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Question

Maria Simons

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Question

Did Verin ever take the life of another Aes Sedai? If so, is that Aes Sedai mentioned in the books?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin ever take the life of a Black Ajah, excluding her own life? If so, is that member of the Black Ajah mentioned in the books?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Other than the man Verin mentions killing in the prologue of The Path of Daggers, did Verin ever take the life of someone that was not an Aes Sedai or a Darkfriend? If so, can you give us a summary of one such event?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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12

Question

Verin makes many statements throughout the books that are suspect now that we know she was not bound by the Oaths. In regards to the ter'angreal dream ring, Verin tells Egwene, "I tried it myself, once, some years ago. Anaiya's Healing did not work as well as it should have. Remember that."

During the time Verin gave Egwene the ring she mentioned going to Anaiya to be healed. She didn't go to a Yellow for Healing—does Verin hold something over Anaiya? Were they pillow friends? Or was this simply a case of asking a friend to do a minor healing because she knew she would keep it quiet?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Anaiya Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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13

Question

How long before giving Egwene the ter'angreal ring did Verin have it in her possession?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin visit Tel'aran'rhiod more than once? If so, generally speaking, how many times did Verin visit Tel'aran'rhiod prior to her discussion of it with Egwene?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Compared to Egwene and the Wise Ones, how experienced in Tel'aran'rhiod was Verin?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin ever meet with one or more Black Ajah in Tel'aran'rhiod?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin ever meet with one or more Forsaken in Tel'aran'rhiod?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin have other ways/means, other than through the ter'angreal dream ring, to get into Tel'aran'rhiod? If so, how did Verin enter Tel'aran'rhiod?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Verin ever in Tel'aran'rhiod after giving Egwene the ring?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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14

Question

Verin tells Egwene she wasn't supposed to give Egwene the ter'angreal ring. Was Verin speaking about Tower Law in regards to an Accepted possessing ter'angreal? If not, was Verin speaking about the Black Ajah not wanting Verin to give Egwene the ring? If not, what did Verin mean?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did the Black Ajah know of the existence of the ter'angreal ring that Verin gave to Egwene?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did the Black Ajah know Verin gave Egwene the ring? If so, when did they find that out?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did any of the Forsaken know that Verin gave Egwene the ter'angreal ring? If so, how long after giving Egwene the ring did one or more of the Forsaken know Verin gave it to her?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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15

Question

It is clear that Lanfear is aware of the search for the Black Ajah, as she shows up in the guise of Else and points the girls towards a previously unknown cache of items supposedly belonging to the Black sisters that went missing. Were those items placed there by Lanfear? If not, who placed those Black Ajah possessions there for the girls to discover?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Lanfear become aware of the girls' search for the Black Ajah through information provided to her by the Black Ajah (excluding Verin)?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin report every request made of her by the Amyrlin concerning the girls’ search to the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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16

Question

We see Alviarin have meetings with Mesaana. Was Verin ever visited by one of the Forsaken?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Which of the Forsaken has Verin met, including any she met but was unaware the individual was a Forsaken?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Has Verin ever been to Shayol Ghul?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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17

Question

Are the Black Ajah aware of other "black" channelers among other populations of the world?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Are there other organizations of Dreadlords similar to the Black Ajah in other populations of the world? If so, will you name one of those organizations and where they are located?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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18

Question

Speaking about activities outside of the White Tower, Verin was quite the traveler. She plays an integral role throughout the series, particularly in The Great Hunt, where she displays some of her deceptive personality.

Was Verin sent to Shienar by the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Verin sent to Shienar by one of the Forsaken?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Verin's visit to Shienar something she was doing on behalf of the Amyrlin?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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19

Question

Verin's behavior throughout some of the earliest books often caused suspicion for many reasons. Specifically, we see Verin speaking privately to two Darkfriends. These meetings now seem more consequential.

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Ingtar aware Verin was of the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Barthanes aware Verin was of the Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Verin responsible in any way for Barthanes' death?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

How about Ingtar and his change of heart, did Verin have a hand in his conversion back to the Light?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Ingtar tell Verin about the wolves?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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20

Question

A couple of other curious events involving Verin occur in The Great Hunt, such as her discussion of Portal Stones with Rand.

Was Verin lying to Rand when she said his use of a Portal Stone was more recent than hers as she had never traveled by one?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

If Verin wasn't lying to Rand, was Verin ever transported by another channeler previous to this moment with Rand? If she was, who transported Verin?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

If Verin was lying to Rand, from where to where has Verin traveled by Portal Stone? If you cannot give us each trip, what is one trip she made and when did she make it?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

How did Verin come to her knowledge of the symbol for the Toman Head Portal Stone?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Specific to the different forms of traveling by Portal Stones, has Verin ever been to a Mirror World?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin know more about the chaos theory and the numbers of chaos and Perpendicular worlds than she explained to Egwene? If so, what is something Verin learned about these other dimensions and worlds that you can share with us, which has not been previously divulged either in books or by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

During the trip by Portal Stone to Toman Head, everyone experiences living multiple variations of their lives, an experience similar to some the testing ter'angreal. Verin makes the comment after the trip through her alternate lives, "Though I never thought I..."? Please finish that statement for us...pretty please?

Maria Simons

No.

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21

Question

Verin ends up in the Two Rivers. Who sent Verin to the Two Rivers?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin's trip to the Two Rivers have anything to do with Verin's plans to betray the Dark One?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin ask Alanna to accompany her to the Two Rivers? If not, why did Alanna accompany her?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Has Alanna been keeping an eye on Verin? After all, twice she went to the kitchens after Verin did, plus she went to the Two Rivers with her, and both went to Fal Dara.

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

If it was Verin's choice to bring Alanna, was Alanna's emotional state a factor in that choice?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin ever use compulsion on Alanna?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin ever suspect Alanna of being Black Ajah?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Alanna's bonding of Rand something she was encouraged to do by Verin?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Was Alanna's bonding of Rand something the Black Ajah, Forsaken or Dark One told her to do?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin have any idea the Shadow was going to attack the Two Rivers?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin know who Luc was?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Did Verin know of Slayer's unique nature?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

Question

Have Verin and Slayer ever met, even unknowingly?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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22

Question

Finally, regarding the infamous scene where Verin and Cadsuane come to a mutual understanding regarding Rand, was Verin considering killing Cadsuane with the "medicine" she had in her possession? If not, was Verin hoping to weave compulsion on her while Cadsuane was doped?

Maria Simons

RAFO.

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23

Matt Hatch

I think Maria enjoyed that way too much, but I couldn't stop chuckling when I went through the list. Although I would suggest that it seems clear that Verin's touch on this world has not ended and we may yet get many of these answers in A Memory of Light. If not, then the encyclopedia we can hope, at least those Verin freaks among us.